Body found in burning wreckage on Stevenson Expressway

Illinois State Police shut down the outbound lanes of the Stevenson Expressway because trucks are burning between Pulaski Road and Cicero Avenue.

Firefighters found a body in burned wreckage hours after a Monday morning crash on the Stevenson Expressway that involved at least two semis, a van and two cars, according to state police.

The crash happened around 10:55 a.m. on the outbound lanes of the expressway between Pulaski Road and Cicero Avenue, according to Illinois State Police and Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.

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The body was found hours later in the van after the extra-alarm fire had been extinguished, fire officials said. The gender and age of the person was not known.

"The victim was found when we did a final search," Langford said. "Rescue was impossible because the entire thing was engulfed in flames."

One person was taken to a hospital and was reported stable, according to state police, who said the injuries were not considered life-threatening. Three other people declined medical attention, Langford said.

Langford said it appeared the crash was a chain reaction, but it was not clear which vehicle crashed first. Fire crews used foam to put out the fire, which was spread about 120 feet across the interstate.

One semi was hauling more than 17,800 pounds of paint, which fueled the fire, and the other was carrying about 40,000 pounds of frozen meat, officials said.

All outbound lanes will be closed for some time, state police said at 2 p.m. But inbound lanes should be reopened soon.